REVIEW: The God Game

The God Game
Author: Danny Tobey

What a wickedly strange, mesmerizing story!

Charlie is a high school senior. When he and his friends get invited to play in an exclusive underground video game called G.O.D. Game, they find it exciting, addictive and exhilarating. They can win gadgets & tech, cash and other cool prizes in real life. But there is a cost....  Players can win cool stuff if they succeed in the game. But, failure can be dangerous. When the game messages become threatening, Charlie and his friends discover that playing the G.O.D. Game can have bad consequences.

I'm a big fan of Stranger Things and Sci-Fi game related stories like Ready Player One. So, this story is perfect for me. I really enjoyed this book! The kids get sucked into this game, its culture, the exhilaration of being "special'' enough to be invited, and the thrill of winning real world prizes.....but when they get the full picture, the consequences are just plain scary.

Great read! I binged this one starting on Christmas Eve and just couldn't put it down!

This is the first book I've read by this author. I'm definitely going to read more!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from St. Martin's Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: Winter of Despair

Winter of Despair
Author: Cora Harrison

When I saw the book blurb for Winter of Despair, I just had to read this book! A series pairing Wilkie Collins and Charles Dickens as amateur detectives -- how could I resist?? Winter of Despair is the second book in the Gaslight Mystery series. I haven't read the first book -- Season of Darkness -- yet. But I'm definitely going to!

Winter 1853. Collins and Dickens are summoned by a local inspector to a murder scene. An artist is dead, his throat cut. Collins knows the dead man. He's a friend of his brother Charley. Unfortunately Charley is a suspect in the killing. The two writers know they must find the killer to clear Charley's name. The truth is elusive....and the situation quite dangerous.

I like the premise and feel of this series. It's a bit cozy-ish (light mystery, nothing graphic), but well-written and different. I love it when a series offers me something new....pairing Wilkie Collins and Charles Dickens is definitely something I have not read before. The mystery is a bit light, but I enjoyed the story! I'm definitely going to back track and read the first book.

This is the first book by Cora Harrison that I have read. I'm definitely going to read more by her. I enjoyed this book! Fun read! I like the cover art, too. Dark and foreboding! Perfect!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Severn House via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: Westering Women

Westering Women
Author: Sandra Dallas

In 1852 Chicago, Maggie is running from trouble. She may have killed a man and authorities are looking for her. The fact he deserved it doesn't matter. Knowing she needs to protect herself and her young daughter, she decides to set out with a wagon train headed for California. Most of those travelling with the train are women seeking husbands. There aren't many women in California...so they are all hoping to start new lives. Some of them might not survive the 2,000 mile trek, but all are willing to risk it. Along the way, they form strong bonds and friendships as they brave the weather and wilderness together.

This is the first book by Sandra Dallas that I have read. I liked the characters and the plot. I have always marveled at the strength and perseverance of those who moved west in the early 1800s. This tale definitely brings to light the struggles, dangers and physical challenges of a wagon train journey to California. The plot centers on the characters and their thoughts/emotions as they trek across the country. The trip is physically and mentally taxing, presenting challenge after challenge. From the weather to illness, the women learn to face each new situation with courage and determination.

I enjoyed this book! I will definitely be reading more by this author.

**I voluntarily read an advanced review copy of this book from St. Martin's Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: Jinxed

Jinxed
Author: Amy McCulloch

I love this book! So entertaining! Just a fun book to read!

Lacey Chu dreams of working for MONCHA Corp, a large tech firm that makes digital pets called Baku. She's 12 and her biggest goal in life is to be a companioneer, creating Baku. Lacey's plans are in jeopardy when she is turned down for a spot at the Profectus Academy in Toronto. Just as she thinks her life is over before it really got started, she finds a damaged Baku. As she repairs it, the little digital cat somehow gets her a spot in Profectus. As she gets involved in school and learns more about Jinx, she finds out the little cat is part of a dangerous secret....

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It kept my attention from start to finish. It's definitely written for middle grade readers, but adults can definitely enjoy this story too! The story is age appropriate and interesting enough to tempt even reluctant readers.

I had such fun reading this book that I'm giving it full stars. I ordered a copy for my keeper shelf. There is a second book in the Jinxed series, Unleashed. I added it to my wish list, and I'm definitely eagerly awaiting another book. Such a fun story! Wish I had a digital cat instead of an iphone! :)

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Sourcebooks Kids via Netgalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own**

REVIEW: The Night Country

The Night Country
Author: Melissa Albert

Another darkly awesome fairy tale by Melissa Albert! I was a little bit afraid to read a sequel to The Hazel Wood. So often, when I really love a book, I am disappointed in a sequel. Most of the time, they just don't have the same feel as the first book. But, I am glad to report that, for me, this book is just as good as The Hazel Wood! In places, maybe even better! It took me a few days after downloading my review copy to work up the courage to start reading -- I'm so glad I did! It ended up being a total binge read, just like the first book!

This series is definitely one that needs to be read in order. A reader who hasn't read The Hazel Wood first would most likely be very confused by this second book. I read the first book several months ago, and I had to skim parts of it again to remind me of events, characters, etc while I was reading this new book. The world-building and story telling is awesome, but a bit complicated or confusing in spots. I learned to slow down, to enjoy these books slowly to get the full effect of the story.

I love the dark fairy tale feel of this series. I'm definitely looking forward to Tales from the Hinterland!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Flatiron Books. All opinions expressed are entirely my own**

REVIEW: Eventide

Eventide
Author: Mae Clair

Somehow I missed the second book in the Hode's Hill series, but the first book, Cusp of Night, was so good that I jumped right on this new book! I will back track and read End of Day. This series is so creepy cool and chilling! I really enjoy it!

Madison Hewitt is starting over. Her husband died four years ago, and after that shock she spent some time in a mental hospital. She has since moved on...she has a new boyfriend, just bought a house and is trying to put the past behind her. She isn't too bothered by the three graves in the yard or the sealed cistern in the basement.....but then her tires are slashed and she received strange threatening messages. Is her mind playing tricks on her again? Or is something more dangerous going on?

This book was a total binge read for me. Suspenseful and creepy! The plot jumps back and forth in time...which usually annoys me a bit...but this time it worked. The author writes it well, and it just works perfectly with the plot.

I'm definitely on board for the next book in this series! And End of Day is sitting right on top my TBR list! Always an entertaining, spooky read! I like the cover art for this book. It's so atmospheric and spooky looking. Perfect! Full stars from me!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Kensington. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

Another Year done! On to 2020!

Wow! I can't believe it's already time to do another New Year's post! 2019 whizzed by so fast!!

My reading goals for 2019: Read books off my own shelves. Read books I have always wanted to read, but haven't yet. And, pare down my pending review book list to 10 and keep it there.

Let's see how I did....



First some stats:

In 2019, I read a total of 352 books.

It breaks down like this:

145 books I read were backlist, or published before 2019.
191 were new release books I read for review (ARC copies from publishers).
16 were new release books I bought or checked out from the library.

I read 191 digital or physical ARCs in 2019.
I listened to 81 audio books.
I read 42 books on my kindle app.
I checked out 17 physical books from my local library.
I read 17 out of print books through OpenLibrary.org
And, I read 4 miscellaneous books off my own shelves.

Now, at first look, those stats look bad for my "read books off my own shelves'' goal....but....the numbers are a bit misleading. I didn't just read 4 books from my own collection. I used my local & regional libraries to pare down my collection this year. Books that I owned, but could check out in digital format from area libraries, I donated to charity to free up shelf space. More than 100 of them! I traded or donated those physical books, then listened to them in audio format, or read them as ebooks on Libby or my Kindle app. This has been one of my main goals for the past 3 years. I love books -- but I own way too many. Thousands of them. Just too many. I have whittled down my personal collection over the past 3 years. It now fills one floor-to-ceiling set of built in bookshelves in my office plus five 5-shelf bookcases and one smaller 3-shelf bookcase. That's down by about half. Making progress! In 2020, I want to further whittle this down until I have only 3 bookcases and the built-in shelves. The ultimate goal? My book collection fitting entirely into one large bookshelf for my physical TBR, and my keeper collection displayed in the built-in bookshelves. It won't happen in 2020....but I can get closer! I think I can make it during 2021 if I keep working at it!

I think I did pretty good this year at balancing my personal reading and review reading. In prior years, I read so much for review that I didn't really get to books I owned or just wanted to read for enjoyment. This year, I managed to squeeze in a lot of backlist reading and books from my personal library. I'm quite happy with the end-of-year totals. In 2020, I want to cut back further on my ARC choices to 10 or less on the pending list..just three or four a month. Keeps me from ever getting behind....and I can be much more selective in my reading. With 3 library cards available to me, I can get new releases relatively quickly. I don't have to read everything before publication date. Gotta keep some zen, especially since the plan is for me to return to full-time employment this year. I will not have time to read 191 ARCs in 2020!

Movin' on down the goal list --

I have to be honest and say my pending review reading list is not at 10. I did, however, whittle it down from 70 to 25. And those 25 have publication dates ranging from January to July 2020. 11 of them have January publication dates. After January, each month has 4 or fewer titles pending review. So....I have made good headway! I will continue this goal into 2020. I should have the list down to 10 or fewer by March. And I plan to keep it there! I am setting a limit -- if I'm sitting at 10 books pending review, I can't request any more until I've read one off the list and reviewed it. Then I'm never behind or rushed. It also frees up my reading time so I can concentrate more on reading books off my own shelves, rather than always ARCs for review. New release titles are great, but backlist is awesome too! Then I can work full-time, still review on a regular basis and ENJOY reading rather than make myself nuts keeping up with publication dates.

And my last goal -- read books I've always wanted to read, but haven't. I scrolled through my "read'' list for the year on Goodreads to see if I accomplished this goal. I wanted to catch up with the Dresden series by Jim Butcher. I finally accomplished that in 2019! I'm all caught up and just waiting for the new book, Peace Talks, to release in July 2020! I wanted to read the Longmire series -- started it in 2019. I wanted to read the Pendergast series (by Lincoln & Child) after reading the first two books years ago....working on that one too. Up to book 14! I caught up with several mystery series I had been meaning to read for years....now I can just look forward to each new book! I also re-read some favorites...Trixie Belden, Nancy Drew, Agatha Christie! So, I think I managed this goal! It's one I need to continue though!

Reading wise, 2019 was a good year! I made progress on each of my goals, and I'm ending the year knowing what my reading goals for 2020 will be.

I'm going to have limited reading time in 2020. So my goals look like this:

1. Read more books off my shelves and pare down my personal book collection to 3 bookshelves and built in shelves. No messy stacking or unsorted shelves. By the end of the year, I want books shelved properly (no weird stacks to fit in extra books) and 2 fewer bookshelves in the house! All read non-keeper shelf books will be donated to free up shelf space. My restriction on buying new books will continue....I can have books that are gifted to me, ARC copies, and occasionally something new. But my ultimate goal is to read what I have!

2. Limit review requests/ARC copies pending on NetGalley, Edelweiss and direct publisher contacts to 10. Only 3-4 ARC reviews per month.

3. Series or authors prioritized in 2020: Jean Plaidy. I have multiple shelves of Plaidy books -- some I have owned for 10 years -- waiting to get full sets of a series before reading. I now have several of her series complete....it's time to read them and free up the shelf space!  Star Trek books. My husband bought me a large number of paperback Star Trek books. I love them! But I actually need to READ them! My goal is to read at least one Star Trek novel a month. It does me no good to have awesome sci-fi books if I never actually get around to reading the books! I have a huge collection of cozy mystery novels. My goal is to read at least one a week and start whittling down my collection. They are quick, easy reads -- no reason for me to hang on to 300+ paperback books if I'm never going to read any of them. Goals! Get them read, get them donated....free up space! Then I can release myself from my self-imposed book buying ban and bring in some new reading material! Also, I want to catch up with several series I'm currently reading -- Walt Longmire, the Agent Pendergast series, and a couple others. Plus I will continue reading through Agatha Christie's novels in publication order. Christie has been my favorite author since I was 9, so I'm slowly reading my way back through her books just because it makes me happy! :)

I'm setting a lower Goodreads challenge for myself this year. Heading back to work is going to cut my reading time, so I'm going to set my challenge at 100 books in 2020. If I get close to that before the end of the year, I will bump it up a bit. :)

Looking forward to 2020!